DV Series: decoding the boys (under revision) ??

68 | later sis

I fished out my phone and typed a greeting for Angelo.

Me: Happy New Year, taz! Have a beautiful one.

Tinago ko na ulit ang phone ko at tumulong kina manang sa paghahanda. Nilabas ko na rin yung cake, muffins at cookies na na-bake ko for today.

"Aba. Inspired yata ang bunso ko. You rarely bake for us," puna ni Dad.

Napangiti ako at patuloy lang sa paglalatag ng mga hinanda ko. "I love to bake. You just don't see it often 'coz you're not here," sabay nguso sa kanya na para bang nagtatampo ako.

Dad chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "And I'll forever regret that." In a second, napawi ang ngiti niya. "Nabalitaan ko pala kay kumpare. Lilipat na sila sa Singapore. Kasama si Lhyle."

I nodded my head, sighing. "I heard from Lhyle."

"You gonna be okay?"

Natahimik ako ng saglit. Then I forced my lips to curl up. "Think so? Si Lhyle naman 'yon. He'll miss me first kaya gagawa ng paraan 'yon para magkausap kami kahit papaano."

"Have no doubt about that but you know," he said, adding, "he's bound to meet someone soon. When that time comes, anak, support your bestfriend." He ruffled my hair.

I grinned at him. "Look at that. My daddy's giving me boy advices."

He feigned a slap on his forehead. "Oh, no. I must be getting old."

Tumawa kaming dalawa. Later on, nakikigulo na rin ako sa mga kapatid ko. Kinukulit namin si Kuya Andrei na kumanta. He may be a Sinker and he may look like he's got everything pero ito ang isa sa mga bagay na kahit kailan hindi gagawin ni Kuya-ang pagkanta. He was flipping us the bird as we forced the mic into him. Sakto, at that moment, I received a video message from Angelo.

It was him, greeting me with his family. He was holding up a wine with one hand, and a pizza with the other.

He said: you're more maganda than this new year, Jamie V.

Natawa ako sa video na 'yon. More so when he sent me another. A shot of him pestering his youngest brother to make a funny face on video.

Hay, Angelo. This dork was everything to me. Buti naman mukhang back to normal na kami.

At around 9 p.m, Racel texted me his greeting. We exchanged messages for an hour or so. Nung hindi na siya nag-reply sa last text ko, bumalik ako sa loob ng bahay at tinawagan siya.

After four to five rings, he finally picked up.

"Hey, baby," he said, his voice low and disrupted by the loud music booming on his end.

"How's Camiguin?"

"The best. Next time, I'm bringing you with me."

"Promise. Next year magpapaalam ako. Papayagan naman siguro ako."

"That'll be great."

Suddenly, a feminine voice cut through the music. Someone was calling him already.

"Listen, love. I'm in a bar with the team. Hang on, love. My cousin is calling me. Talk to you later?"

Before I could respond, he hung up right away. Nagulat ako doon. Sakto naman na tinawag na rin ako ni Kuya Travis kaya hindi ko na rin masyadong pinansin. Naabala ako masyado ng pakikipagkulitan kay Dad, lalo pa nang nabanggit ni Dad na napalapit na raw si Kuya Travis kay Francheska. Hindi naman kami kinikibo about doon ng kapatid ko. In fact, ang suplado nga. He wasn't confirming nor denying anything kaya lalo ko tuloy gustong mag-stalk. I'd seen Francheska before, kind of. Nung una ko siyang marinig, sinearch ko na ang Facebook niya. There wasn't much on it. I didn't even think she used it much. But I saw her Instagram and website there. Imagine my surprise when I realized na painter pala siya. Even better, siya pala si Fran Celle.

Gusto ko nga siyang makilala but I doubt my brother would introduce me to her. He's sweet and all but he could be more masungit than Kuya Andrei when he wanted.

2 hours passed by swiftly. Soon, I was greeting my family with kisses on the cheeks. Hinalikan ko sa pisngi sina Mom, Dad and Kuya Chris. Kuya Travis and Kuya Andrei kissed me by the head. Then, lumapit ako kay Kuya Jacob na mukhang hinihintay din akong lumapit. He was by the pool dahil lumayo ito para may tawagan.

I walked closer to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. Masaya ako na pumasok ang bagong taon na maayos na kami. Hindi ko yata alam ang gagawin ko kung sasalubungin namin 'to ng may hinanakit kami sa isa't isa.

I heard him chuckle before I felt his strong arms around my body.

"No kiss on my cheek?"

Ngumiti ako. "Happy new year, Kuya! We survived this year." Then I placed a featherlight kiss on his cheek.

Ngumisi siya akin. "New year na, wala pa rin ang plot twist ng buhay ko."

"You need to change na rin kasi. Get serious for once.

"You're right," he said, which surprised me. "I just might."

Napatawa kami ro'n at bahagyang napatahimik. None of us made a move. Obvious na may gusto kaming sabihin sa isa't isa pero 'di namin masimulan. Feeling awkward, I turned my head over my shoulder. Sa kabilang side, tuloy pa rin ang pagkanta ni Kuya Chris. Nagkukwentuhan naman sina Kuya Travis at Kuya Andrei habang nagtatawanan sina Mom and Dad. None of them were even paying attention to us.

I brought my gaze back to my brother. The gap between his brows creased as a pondering look registered on his face.

Without thinking, I blurted out, "Kuya, do you think we can go back to the way things were?"

He blinked, surprised. Naputol ko yata ang iniisip niya. He tilted his head, looking skeptical. "Do you want to? Are you sure you want to? Hindi ba ikaw yung nagsabi na ayaw mong ganito ako?"

"That's not what I meant then."

"What did you mean then?"

I threaded my fingers together and looked at my toes. "I just wanted you to acknowledge that I can also make decisions for myself. But it didn't mean I want us to change. It's still us against the world." I looked up to meet his scrutinizing gaze. "You're still my partner in crime. The Clyde to my Bonnie. Can we go back to that?"

He was deep in thought at first until a sigh tore out of his lips and he flicked my forehead. "Later, sis. Maybe later. I just need to sort out what to change and where I need to draw the line. But as soon as I figure it out, then sure. We may bicker a lot but you're still my sister. It's a fact. There's no changing that. No amount of bad history can erase that. I still adore you no matter what."

Hope rose inside me. "You swear it?"

He grinned and nodded in confirmation.

"Then I'll wait for that. Don't take too long."

"Oo na," he said, pinching my nose with this fingers.

Napatawa ako sa ginawa niya. I was cool with his decision. As they always say nga, it's better to be late than never. Kuya Jacob flashed a light wink and went over to the other side where the party was in full swing.

Basta ako. Masaya ako. Kuntento na ako sa narinig kong sagot. May mga nawala man sa 'kin last year at meron mang mga mawawala this year, sigurado ako na basta kasama ko family ko magiging maayos ako. I looked forward to my new year.

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